Politics

Wike: What I Means By ‘I Owe You Nothing Statement,’ – Tinubu

Published

2 years ago

May 5, 2023

The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described as misleading, media reports of his response to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State over request for refund of funds spent on building flyovers and federal roads in the state.

Tinubu had last Wednesday during the commissioning of Rumuokwuta-Rumuola flyover bridge, told Wike to lobby him to get refunds for the monies expended by the state on federal projects.

“On the demand you made for refund, I owe you nothing. It’s your road. You’re the one living on these roads. I commend your efforts. You have to lobby me to collect”, Tinubu had said.

Clarifying his response, the president-elect said Wike was in order against any shade of interpretation the public was giving to it.

“Whatever you say about owing or no owing, I’m very grateful to the man (Wike) who brought me here. He didn’t ask for personal commitment. He asked for a policy commitment that an incoming president has no authority to offer and approve.

“There can only be one President at a time. I cannot commit to expenditure on behalf of the outgoing President when my tenure has not started. Get educated, be informed, please,” Tinubu told Nigerians as he concluded his two day visit to Rivers State.

Procurement Act

Recall that Wike had drawn the attention of the federal government towards the need to amend its procurement law in order to end incessant abandonment of projects across the country.

He stressed that some of the flyovers were built on federal roads and the state should be refunded by the FG. He requested the incoming administration to consider a possible refund to the Rivers State.

“These projects are FG’s roads. We don’t want our people to suffer. I believe the Federal Government should say ‘let us refund these monies. I assure you, as you enter office and approve to pay these monies back, other states will also do same thing. So that (refund) is the first request we are making to you.”

N20m monthly for Law School
The Rivers governor also used the opportunity of commissioning the Magistrate Court complex to make a pledge of N20 million monthly stipend to the Nebo Graham Douglas Law School, a Federal Government facility, built by the state government.

He said: “When we handed over the Law School to the Council of Legal Education, the state government gave out N400m for the maintenance of the structures.

“We gave them property that they can use to make money to keep the school. We didn’t want a situation where they will say the federal government has not released money or the money they released is too small.

“I was told the other day that there was no light, there was no water. I can’t understand our system.”

The Governor attributed such attitude to the poor maintenance culture of the public sector in Nigeria, where nobody cares enough to maintain public property and charged state chief judge not to allow the newly constructed court complex to suffer such fate.

Governor Wike assured that financial provision would be made, which should cater to the maintenance needs of the complex for the first one year.

“As I am leaving office, in this one year, when I come here, I don’t want to see and hear that it is dilapidated or it has deteriorated, it will be unfair.

“So each month, you’ll get N20 million to maintain this place. So, we will give you one year (money) in advance so that you will keep this place well,” he said.

Politics

By-election: PDP, APC Exchange Words Over Alleged Plan To Disrupt Poll

Published

22 hours ago

August 15, 2025

Editor

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Friday alleged that it had uncovered plans by the Peoples Democratic Party to cause chaos by attacking selected polling and collation centres during Saturday’s by-election in Edo Central and Ovia Federal Constituency.

In a statement signed by the state APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, the party also alleged that the state PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and a top party chieftain, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, were part of the plot.

However, Aziegbemi, who chairs the PDP caretaker committee in the state, dismissed the allegation in a message to journalists, describing it as “absolute nonsense.”

PDP Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, also said the APC did not deserve a response, adding, “All we demand is a level playing field for a free, fair and transparent election.”

Inegbeniki also denied any plan to disrupt the election, describing the APC’s claims as “malicious, false, and misleading.”

The APC statement read, “The All Progressives Congress wishes to inform the general public, and in particular, electorates in Edo State, that we have uncovered a dastardly plan by the remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party to cause chaos by attacking some selected polling and collation centres on Saturday in the Edo Central and Ovia Federal Constituency by-election.

“Last (Thursday) night, a large crowd of thugs suspected to have been imported from neighbouring states was seen gathered at Chief Francis Inegbeniki’s home in Opoji, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, and they were dispatched last night to various points in Edo Central.

“We have earlier reported to the security agencies that Inegbeniki played a major role in the murder of Inspector Akor, but sadly, he has been left to walk the streets freely unchallenged. One of those who attended the briefing informed us that they were brought from neighbouring states for the purpose of the senatorial election.

“Similarly, strange-looking youngsters in several unmarked buses were seen last night, parked at the residence of the state caretaker chairman of the PDP, Mr. Tony Aziegbemi, in Benin City, and again we have been told that the unidentified fierce-looking men have been dispatched to Ovia North East and Ovia South West Local Government Areas to disrupt the re-run election.”

Tenebe urged the Nigerian Police to arrest the PDP leaders and others allegedly involved to prevent attacks on voters, stressing that elections should not be treated as war.

He said the APC remained committed to the principles of free, fair, and credible elections, adding that the party had campaigned vigorously and was ready to win both by-elections overwhelmingly.

“We are advising Aziegbemi and his cohorts that they should not stand in our way to victory, but if they insist on their evil plans to constitute themselves as hurdles, they will be the way. Saturday’s election shall be the testament and confirmation of the 2.5 million votes Edo people have promised President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. We call on all eligible voters to turn out in their numbers to cast their votes unhindered,” Tenebe added.

In his response, Inegbeniki said, “My attention has been drawn to a libellous press release signed by a self-styled Emperor Jarret Tenebe, where my name was mentioned as one of those mobilising thugs to disrupt the Saturday election in Esan Land (Edo Central Senatorial District).

“I take exception to that reckless statement coming from the mouth of a deserter soldier man. It is clear that Tenebe needs urgent mental health attention, and he should not be taken seriously.

“Tenebe has become a disgrace to the APC. He is known for his reckless talks; he talks before thinking.”

He urged the people of Edo Central to go about their civic duties peacefully and turn out to vote.

“The APC must begin to watch the activities of Jarret Tenebe. He is known in the past to make this kind of reckless statement so that the APC can release money to him to counter the so-called imaginary thugs. This must be one of such statements to collect money from the APC.

“Once again, I deny any involvement in the death of Inspector Akor. I was not on Airport Road on the day of the incident, nor did I plan or conspire with anyone. I am innocent of the allegations. It is now clear that it was Tenebe who framed up the allegations against me just to smear my hard-earned reputation.

“Being an innocent and law-abiding Nigerian, I have already instituted a libel action against Jaret Tenebe and his cohorts. We are in court, and I believe I will get justice”, he stated.

Politics

By-Election: Edo Is Home To APC — Deputy Gov, Idahosa

Published

2 days ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon Dennis Idahosa, says irrespective of the setback experienced during the immediate past administration of the state, Edo is originally home to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, Idahosa stated this during the final campaign round for the Ovia federal constituency by-election in Ovia South West local government area that took place at Iguobazuwa.

The deputy governor expressed optimism that the party will come victorious in the bye-election scheduled for Saturday.

Idahosa, who was the occupant of the seat before his election as the state’s deputy governor, said he was sure of the APC candidate, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, securing a minimum of 90 percent votes for the by-election.

“All that is needed is for us to fully mobilise and encourage our supporters to come out enmass to exercise their civic responsibilities on Saturday.

“It is very obvious that from our engagement with the people these past days and across various communities in the federal constituency, we are sure of not less than 90 percent of total votes cast.

“In fact, is not for the misdeed of the immediate past administration, Edo is home to the APC, it has always been right from the AC to ACN, and before the APC”, Idahosa stated

Meanwhile, the APC candidate for the bye-election, again reiterated her commitment to the betterment of the federal constituency.

Omosede Igbinedion noted that her synergy with the deputy governor was sure to attract developmental projects to the federal government.

She appealed to the people to come out on Saturday without fear or intimidation, to do what is required of them, cast their votes for the progressives party.

Notable leaders at the grand finale of the campaign at Iguobazuwa were the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Osamwonyi Atu, former deputy governors of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, and Chief Lucky Imasuen.

Others are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the party former governorship candidate,Mr Lawrence Okah, the state Secretary of the party, Senator Neda Imasuen, Chief Billy Osawaru, amongst others.

Politics

Osun LG Crisis: INEC To Relocate CVR Centres, Releases Gov Poll Timetable

Published

3 days ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State said it will relocate registration points for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration exercise from local government secretariats currently under lock.

Osun LG secretariats have been shut since February 17, 2025, due to a tussle between the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over control of councils.

The APC had claimed that the February 10, 2025, decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure, had returned its candidates elected in the October 15, 2022, local government elections, but sacked by the Osogbo Federal High Court in December 2022.

But the PDP insisted that the officials who emerged on February 22, 2025, are legally recognised to manage the affairs of council areas in the state.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, said the affected INEC offices had been identified and would be moved to alternative locations to ensure the CVR proceeds without disruption.

Agboke said, “The CVR will start on the 18th day of August, 2025, with online registration.

“By this, the prospective registrant will visit www.cvr.inecnigeria.org to supply the necessary information about himself or herself.

“Thereafter, he or she will generate a slip to take to INEC local government office within his place of residence.

“Later on the 25th of August 2025, the registrant will visit the local government office for his or her biometrics, i.e the fingerprint and the facial.

“INEC offices located inside local government secretariats are not shut down.

“However, INEC has harvested the number of those local government offices. We want to bring them out of the LG secretariats. We are working on that. Our headquarters had requested for their details and we have forwarded to them.”

Agboke also announced that activities for the August 8, 2026, Osun governorship election have officially begun, with notices posted in all INEC LG offices.

Party primaries are scheduled between November 24 and December 15, 2025, while submission of candidates’ particulars will run from January 15 to February 9, 2026.

He stated, “This is necessary to enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022. The submission of forms EC9 ( personal particulars of candidates) and EC9B (Names/list of nominated candidates) online at the nomination portal of the commission at 9 am on the 15th day of January, 2026, to 6 pm on the 9th February 2026.

“Access code for the submission of nomination forms shall be available for collection on 15th December, 2025, at the headquarters of the commission. I implore all the political parties and other stakeholders to follow the timetable for the 2026 Governorship Election for Osun State with a view to tracking the various activities contained therein. Copies of the timetable shall be made available to the political parties at this meeting in a short while. The 2026 Governorship election shall be conducted on the 8th day of August,2026.”

He appealed to political parties and other major stakeholders to work against the menace of vote buying, saying the electorate should be educated not to sell their votes.

The REC also called on all stakeholders to continue supporting INEC in the state for it to deliver a credible election, noting that the commission alone cannot deliver a peaceful and successful election without their cooperation.
(PUNCH)